Best high schools in Washington (2025)

Schools classified as high schools by NCES. Ranked by the Success Index (US) from official American data; 38 schools in Washington, District of Columbia. Rank positions shown on each profile are within United States and District of Columbia.

1
89
The Sojourner Truth School PCSWashington · Charter High– · 292 students
2
86
Bard HS Early College DC (Bard DC)Washington · Public High– · 331 students
3
85
KIPP DC PCS - Legacy College Preparatory PCSWashington · Charter High– · 646 students
4
84
Benjamin Banneker HSWashington · Public High82% Math proficiency · 703 students
5
83
School Without Walls HSWashington · Public High82% Math proficiency · 606 students
6
78
Girls Global Academy PCSWashington · Charter High– · 183 students
7
78
Basis Dc PcsWashington · Charter High65% Math proficiency · 692 students
8
75
Washington Latin PCS - Upper SchoolWashington · Charter High42% Math proficiency · 357 students
9
62
District of Columbia International SchoolWashington · Charter High41% Math proficiency · 1,654 students
10
54
McKinley Technology HSWashington · Public High32% Math proficiency · 723 students
11
51
Jackson-Reed HSWashington · Public High32% Math proficiency · 1,855 students
12
44
Thurgood Marshall Academy PCSWashington · Charter High27% Math proficiency · 373 students
13
41
Digital Pioneers Academy PCS - Capitol HillWashington · Charter High– · 387 students
14
35
Friendship PCS - Technology Preparatory HSWashington · Charter High12% Math proficiency · 307 students
15
33
Columbia Heights Education CampusWashington · Public High21% Math proficiency · 1,563 students
16
33
KIPP DC - College Preparatory PCSWashington · Charter High26% Math proficiency · 643 students
17
30
Washington Leadership Academy PCSWashington · Charter High17% Math proficiency · 386 students
18
28
Duke Ellington School of the ArtsWashington · Public High17% Math proficiency · 589 students
19
25
Capital City PCS - HSWashington · Charter High12% Math proficiency · 348 students
20
25
Paul PCS - International HSWashington · Charter High12% Math proficiency · 439 students
21
23
Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public PolicyWashington · Charter High10% Math proficiency · 367 students
22
22
Idea PcsWashington · Charter High7.5% Math proficiency · 350 students
23
22
Cardozo Education CampusWashington · Public High8% Math proficiency · 710 students
24
22
Eastern HSWashington · Public High2.5% Math proficiency · 909 students
25
22
H.D. Woodson HSWashington · Public High7.5% Math proficiency · 579 students
26
22
E.L. Haynes PCS - HSWashington · Charter High7.5% Math proficiency · 446 students
27
21
Phelps Architecture Construction and Engineering HSWashington · Public High7.5% Math proficiency · 350 students
28
20
Goodwill Excel Center PCSWashington · Charter High24.5% Math proficiency · 440 students
29
20
Anacostia HSWashington · Public High5% Math proficiency · 246 students
30
19
Richard Wright PCS for Journalism and Media ArtsWashington · Charter High7.5% Math proficiency · 300 students
31
19
Dunbar HSWashington · Public High2% Math proficiency · 892 students
32
19
Ron Brown College Preparatory HSWashington · Public High2.5% Math proficiency · 196 students
33
18
Ballou HSWashington · Public High2.5% Math proficiency · 597 students
34
18
Friendship PCS - Collegiate AcademyWashington · Charter High2.5% Math proficiency · 745 students
35
16
Coolidge HSWashington · Public High5% Math proficiency · 1,029 students
36
16
Roosevelt HSWashington · Public High2.5% Math proficiency · 943 students
37
12
The SEED PCS of Washington DCWashington · Charter High12% Math proficiency · 245 students
38
5
Kingsman Academy PCSWashington · Charter High5% Math proficiency · 346 students

#	School	Sector	Success Index (US)	Key result	Students
1	The Sojourner Truth School PCS Washington · High · Grades 6–12	Charter	89.0 Top 5%	–	292
2	Bard HS Early College DC (Bard DC) Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	85.6 Top 5%	–	331
3	KIPP DC PCS - Legacy College Preparatory PCS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	84.9 Top 5%	–	646
4	Benjamin Banneker HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	84.0 Top 5%	82% Math proficiency	703
5	School Without Walls HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	82.5 Top 10%	82% Math proficiency	606
6	Girls Global Academy PCS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	78.3 Top 10%	–	183
7	Basis Dc Pcs Washington · High · Grades 5–12	Charter	78.2 Top 10%	65% Math proficiency	692
8	Washington Latin PCS - Upper School Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	75.0 Top 25%	42% Math proficiency	357
9	District of Columbia International School Washington · High · Grades 6–12	Charter	61.5 Top 50%	41% Math proficiency	1,654
10	McKinley Technology HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	53.9 Top 50%	32% Math proficiency	723
11	Jackson-Reed HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	50.5 Top 50%	32% Math proficiency	1,855
12	Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	43.6 Lower 50%	27% Math proficiency	373
13	Digital Pioneers Academy PCS - Capitol Hill Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	40.6 Lower 50%	–	387
14	Friendship PCS - Technology Preparatory HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	35.1 Lower 50%	12% Math proficiency	307
15	Columbia Heights Education Campus Washington · High · Grades 6–12	Public	33.1 Lower 50%	21% Math proficiency	1,563
16	KIPP DC - College Preparatory PCS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	32.5 Lower 50%	26% Math proficiency	643
17	Washington Leadership Academy PCS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	30.1 Lower 50%	17% Math proficiency	386
18	Duke Ellington School of the Arts Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	28.4 Lower 50%	17% Math proficiency	589
19	Capital City PCS - HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	25.4 Lower 50%	12% Math proficiency	348
20	Paul PCS - International HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	24.9 Lower 50%	12% Math proficiency	439
21	Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy Washington · High · Grades 6–12	Charter	23.1 Lower 50%	10% Math proficiency	367
22	Idea Pcs Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	22.4 Lower 50%	7.5% Math proficiency	350
23	Cardozo Education Campus Washington · High · Grades 6–12	Public	22.1 Lower 50%	8% Math proficiency	710
24	Eastern HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	22.1 Lower 50%	2.5% Math proficiency	909
25	H.D. Woodson HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	21.9 Lower 50%	7.5% Math proficiency	579
26	E.L. Haynes PCS - HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	21.5 Lower 50%	7.5% Math proficiency	446
27	Phelps Architecture Construction and Engineering HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	21.1 Lower 50%	7.5% Math proficiency	350
28	Goodwill Excel Center PCS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	20.3 Lower 50%	24.5% Math proficiency	440
29	Anacostia HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	20.2 Lower 50%	5% Math proficiency	246
30	Richard Wright PCS for Journalism and Media Arts Washington · High · Grades 8–12	Charter	19.4 Lower 50%	7.5% Math proficiency	300
31	Dunbar HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	19.0 Lower 50%	2% Math proficiency	892
32	Ron Brown College Preparatory HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	18.5 Lower 50%	2.5% Math proficiency	196
33	Ballou HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	18.3 Lower 50%	2.5% Math proficiency	597
34	Friendship PCS - Collegiate Academy Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	17.8 Lower 50%	2.5% Math proficiency	745
35	Coolidge HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	16.0 Lower 50%	5% Math proficiency	1,029
36	Roosevelt HS Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Public	16.0 Lower 50%	2.5% Math proficiency	943
37	The SEED PCS of Washington DC Washington · High · Grades 9–12	Charter	11.8 Lower 50%	12% Math proficiency	245
38	Kingsman Academy PCS Washington · High · Grades 6–12	Charter	4.6 Lower 50%	5% Math proficiency	346

The Sojourner Truth School PCS in Washington leads the 2025 list of high schools in Washington with a Success Index (US) of 89.0. Of the 38 schools shown, 21 are charter, 17 are public.

For the full picture see the wider District of Columbia high schools rankings, every school on the Washington page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best high school in Washington?

The Sojourner Truth School PCS in Washington, District of Columbia ranks first among high schools in Washington with a Success Index (US) of 89.0 out of 100 (Enrollment: 292).

How are high schools in Washington ranked?

Each school's Success Index (US) combines 4 factors: math proficiency (30%), reading proficiency (30%), community advantage (fewer free/reduced-price lunch) (25%), students per teacher (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across United States. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.

Are these 2025 rankings official?

No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official American data (Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES CCD, EDFacts); NCES Common Core of Data). States set their own assessments and proficiency cut scores, so proficiency rates are most comparable within a state. Use the state rankings for like-for-like comparisons.